Skildres

Skildres is a fictional mineral that appears in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games. In most settings, it is valued for its luminous appearance and its reputed interactions with magical or technological power. Because skildres is a construct of worldbuilders rather than a real mineral, its properties and meanings vary between works.

The term is generally treated as a coined name with no established real-world etymology, though some writers describe skildres as originating from a mountain people or from a language of star-folk within their universes. In game and fantasy lore, it is commonly categorized as a glass-like stone with strong spectral reflections.

Physically, skildres is described as translucent to opaque, with a pearly or iridescent sheen. It is usually depicted as comparatively soft for a mineral, with a Mohs hardness around five to six, and it fractures conchoidally when broken. Its color ranges from pale blue to violet, and it is often said to glow faintly in darkness or during magical rituals.

Occurrence and sources: In-world geology places skildres in vein deposits within basalt or crystalline caverns, sometimes near geothermal activity or in meteorite-rich regions. It is typically mined by specialized crews and may be scarce or highly regulated.

Uses and cultural significance: Skildres is employed in crafting runic talismans, enchantment bindings, or energy conduits in magical-technological devices. Culturally, it may symbolize insight, guardianship, or the separation of fate, depending on the setting. Its rarity drives trade and intrigue within fictional economies.

See also: aetherstone, moonstone, starglass.